16 January 2014

Letter to the Community Regarding the Fairfax Crossing



 The following letter was initially written to one resident. DPTI  must have thought it was so good they would share it with everyone and posted the letter below on their website.

Dear Householder,
GOODWOOD RAIL JUNCTION UPGRADE PROJECT
FAIRFAX AVENUE AUTOMATED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
I write to provide advice in regards to the audible alarms that have been installed at the
Fairfax Avenue pedestrian crossing.
We acknowledge that there has been a change to this pedestrian crossing from
passive to active in order to meet current safety standards for level crossings. The
project team has considered the feasibility of removing the alarms from this crossing,
however this is not acceptable for Public Transport Services, the asset owner and
operator, nor is it DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant (eg, for people who are
visually impaired).
I can confirm that the audible alarms within the automated pedestrian crossing at
Fairfax Avenue / Cromer Parade are required to stay in place for safety reasons.
On Wednesday 4 December 2013, DPTI’s engaged Acoustic Engineer met with
representatives on site to check the noise levels being emitted by the newly installed
pedestrian alarms and to ensure that they were set to the appropriate safety standard
for volume and tone.
During this assessment, it was confirmed that the alarm noise level output complies
with the International Standard ISO 7731 and the volume is not required to be adjusted.
On the same day, they also tested one other standard tone setting built into the alarm
that is permitted in Australia. It was deemed that this second alarm sound was
offending and so the current tone was maintained.
The Fairfax Avenue / Cromer Parade automated pedestrian crossing alarm complies
with the relevant Standards and EPA Guidelines and Legislation. As mentioned above,
the alarms are required for the automatic activation of these gates.
Earlier this year, the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released
the Guidelines for the assessment of noise from rail infrastructure (”the Guidelines”).
Regarding noise from alarms, signals and safety devices, the Guidelines state:
“The Guidelines are not applicable to noise from safety devices associated with
railway operations, such as warning horns and bells at level crossings, due to the
need to ensure public and railway employee safety. However, it is recommended
that the design of new and upgraded railway lines include a consideration of
noise from safety devices and aim to reduce noise levels from such devices to
achieve compliance with the Guidelines.”
In order to minimise the environmental noise, a 1.2 metre high double layered
Colorbond barrier has been installed on the western side of the crossing. This is an
effective barrier and provides a 4dB reduction at the most affected property located
west of this crossing.  The barrier could not be designed any higher as this would have
resulted in deflection issues (and higher noise levels) for properties located on both
sides of the crossing and would not have complied with the standard design
configuration and safety and maintenance requirements for PTS pedestrian mazes.
The existing rear fencing to the properties located on the eastern side of the line
This provides no noise mitigation whatsoever
provides the required shielding to these abutting properties.
Construction of the 1.2 metre high barrier meets the requirements of the EPA’s
Guildeline and no further noise treatment will be undertaken. DPTI have satisfied all
relevant PTS Standards and EPA Guidelines in the design and installation of this new
and safer automated pedestrian crossing, located within this important public transport
corridor.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.
If you have any further queries, please contact the service operator (PTS) on the
Adelaide Metro InfoLine: 1300 311 108.
Yours sincerely,

Well I have news for the author of this letter, this response is simply not good enough and offensive to all who can hear the beeps nearly all the time. I sat a at a meeting where you promised a sound wall in this location and a 1.2 m fence is not a sound wall. Can you please find the additional money to create an environment similar to what residents enjoyed before the project, remember, you told us that noone would be worse of? There are solutions and they need to be found quickly. You need to acknowledge that what now exists is unacceptable and genuinely consult with the people who seem to have better ideas than you do about what will work.

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